Sports Medicine: Faculty & Fellows

Dr. Erickson is the head team physician at Arizona State University and fellowship director for the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center / Arizona State University Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. A native of Tucson, he completed his undergraduate and medical school education at the University of Arizona.  He then moved to Phoenix where he did his internal medicine residency at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center. After residency he spent 18 months in the sports medicine fellowship at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, IN.  He returned to Phoenix to work as part time faculty at ASU and assistant team physician for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  In fall 2000 he was hired as the Head Team Physician at ASU and in July 2003 he started the primary care sports medicine fellowship. In addition to his teaching and patient care responsibilities, Dr. Erickson recently co-authored the chapter on Martial Arts Injuries in the 1st edition of Netter’s Sports Medicine. Dr. Erickson also serves as the medical consultant for Major League Baseball caring for the umpires and serves on the Major League Baseball Medical Advisory Commitee.  Dr. Erickson is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.

He is the proud father of triplet girls Katie, Lindsey and Nikki and a son named Michael.  His wife Laurie is an OB/GYN in group practice in Phoenix with Maricopa OB/GYN Associates.  He holds a black belt in Tang Soo Do and in his spare time teaches martial arts.

Dr. Chhabra is a national expert in the field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and is board certified. He graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in Economics. While at Harvard, he was a four-year Varsity Basketball letter winner. After graduating from Harvard, Dr. Chhabra attended the University of Virginia where he received his M.D. degree and completed his orthopedic residency. During his residency, he received his M.S. degree from the University of Virginia studying tendon injuries in athletes. He also completed an arthroscopy and orthopedic sports medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. While in Pittsburgh, he served as an assistant orthopedic surgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers professional football team, the Pittsburgh Passion women’s professional football team, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and the Pittsburgh Ballet.

Dr. Chhabra is an active member in many local and national organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, Orthopedic Surgeons Network of Arizona, Western Orthopedic Association, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He has also authored numerous clinical and scientific orthopedic publications, has served as guest speaker at several national conferences, and has received many clinical and research awards.

As a team orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chhabra currently cares for Arizona State University, the Phoenix Prowlers women professional football team, the Copper semi-pro football league, South Mountain College, and several high schools in the valley.

Dr. Carter is an expert in the field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. He has been practicing since 1989 and is board certified. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology, graduating Cum Laude from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. After graduating from University of Pittsburgh medical school as vice-president of his class, Dr. Carter completed his orthopedic residency at the Ohio State University. He then received additional training by completing two sports medicine fellowships. He is an orthopedic consultant for Arizona State University and head team physician for the Phoenix Suns. He is also currently a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Sports Medicine.

Dr. Carter has published numerous articles pertaining to orthopedic and sports medicine topics and has given presentations around the world.

Dr. Carter is considered a national authority on the topics of meniscal allografts and articular cartilage. Additional scholarly organizations in which he is a member include the American Medical Society, the ACL Study Group, and Who’s Who in America.

Dr. Cummings is an expert in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

He earned his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Studies from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he was also recognized and awarded for his research activities in philosophical studies.

He received general surgical training at the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and orthopedic surgical training at Pennsylvania State University, where he held the Michael and Myrtle Orthopedic fellowship under the direction of Dr. Robert B. Greer. He completed his formal training at Hughston Sports Medical Clinic in Columbus, Georgia, under the direction of Drs. Jack Hughston, Champ Baker, Glenn Terry and Kurt Jacobson.

He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Currently Dr. Cummings serves as an Orthopedic Consultant for Arizona State University and a faculty member for the primary care sports medicine fellowship at Arizona State.

In addition to the educational honors bestowed upon him early in his career, Dr. Cummings has received honors and awards in many other educational and athletic areas. He has been an invited faculty member of prestigious institutions across the country. He has also served on many orthopedic and sports medicine committees throughout his career.

Dr. Cummings' abstracts, manuscripts, and articles have been published in numerous scientific journals, magazines, and textbooks, and his lectures and presentations have gained national and international recognition. Dr. Cummings is the proud father of six boys. His wife Angela is not only a busy stay at home mom, but also runs her own business called Mirror Mirror a specialty boutique.

Dr. Davis was the first fellow at Arizona State University and after completing his fellowship he joined the faculty at Arizona State University. He will stay on as the team physician for womens soccer. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He received a B.S. in Biological Sciences/Pre-Med from Ohio University and completed medical school at Ohio State University in June 2000. In June 2003, he completed his family practice residency at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborne in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Davis currently is in the process of starting a private family/sports medicine practice in Chandler, AZ where he lives. He has covered Chandler High school sports since his second year of residency and continues to increase his involvement in the Chandler community.

When not covering or watching sports, Dr Davis spends his free time with his two little boys, Austin and Alex. His wife, Becky, is a stay at home mom but finds time for her business with the Pampered Chef © and is on the Board of Directors for the Chandler Moms Club.

Dr. Dunn was the primary care sports medicine fellow from 2004-2005. A Houston native, he came to us having graduated medical school from the Medical University of South Carolina and completing a Family Medicine residency at Utah Valley Family Medicine Center. Dr. Dunn graduated from BYU with a BS in Exercise Science with a pre-med emphasis while also walking on the football team. Areas of sports medicine which are of particular intrest to Dr. Dunn are football, soccer and golf.  Dr. Dunn is currently in private practice in Salt Lake City, UT.

Deborah R. Garland grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and attended Arizona State University. She graduated with a degree in Nutrition with a minor in Biochemistry. After attending the University of Arizona College of Medicine she completed a Family Practice residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. She is board certified in Family Practice. She began working at Arizona State University in 1990 and has been a team physician in Intercollegiate Athletics since 1993. In addition to working at Intercollegiate Athletics and the Campus Health Center she also works at the Student Health center at the Polytechnic (East) campus.

Her husband Ed and 2 daughters Stephanie and Amanda have been true sundevil fans over the years. Stephanie is currently attending Arizona State University, and Amanda is a junior in high school.

Dr. Lee is the new primary care sports medicine fellow at ASU for the 2009-2010 academic year. Dr. Lee was born in South Korea and immigrated to Los Angeles where he grew up and went to college at UC Irvine. He then received his medical education at the American University of the Caribbean. He finished his family medicine residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Having played baseball, football, and golf in some capacity most of his life, Dr. Lee enjoys playing and watching sports with his family and friends in his free time.

Dr. McCoy has been a team physician at ASU since 1994. He's been the Head Primary Care Sports Medicine team physician for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 1996 when the team had only minor league affiliates. He received his sports medicine fellowship training at Michigan State University and passed his Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine from the American Board of Family Practice. He has a busy private practice in the valley entailing both sports medicine and primary care. In addition, Dr. McCoy was flattered to be recently voted as one of the 2006 “Top Docs” by Phoenix Magazine.

His professional interests have included the desire to promote the newer functional training and rehabilitation that he believes will be the future standard for the training and rehabilitating of athletes in sports medicine.

Dr. Amy Jo Overlin is one of the team physicians at Arizona State University and serves as a faculty member for the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center / Arizona State University Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship.  She is a Waukesha, WI native and came to ASU after graduating medical school from Indiana University and completing a family medicine residency at Waukesha Family Medicine Center.  Dr. Overlin completed her sports medicine fellowship here at ASU during 2005-6 and joined the faculty here immediately upon her graduation.  Dr. Overlin completed her undergraduate training at Ball State University with a BS in Exercise Science and a pre-med emphasis while being a scholarship athlete for the BSU gymnastics team.  In addition to her teaching and patient care responsibilities, Dr. Overlin recently co-authored the chapter on Gymnastics Injuries in the 1st edition of Netter’s Sports Medicine.  

Dr. Shores is the newest addition to the sports medicine faculty at ASU for the 2009-2010 academic year. As an Arizona native, Dr. Shores is right at home in Tempe. After graduating from Central High School, he attended Grand Canyon University.           Dr. Shores then received his medical education at the University of Arizona. He completed a Family Medicine Residency at          St. Joseph 's Hospital and Medical Center. Most recently he completed a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at Arizona State University. He currently works full-time in the East Valley as an urgent care physician while maintaining a sports medicine practice in south Tempe. In addition to serving as faculty at ASU, Dr. Shores is currently also part of the Chicago White Sox spring training medical staff.  Dr. Shores is board certified in Family Medicine and holds a CAQ in Primary Care Sports Medicine.

Dr. Shores and his wife Katie, have two wonderful sons Sam and Jake. Having played baseball and football in some capacity most of his life, Dr. Shores enjoys playing and watching sports with his family and friends in his free time.

Jeff Smithers hails from Michigan and received his undergraduate education from the University of Michigan. After completing medical school at Vanderbilt University, he came to Phoenix, where he completed a 4-year Internal Medicine/Pediatrics residency before joining the ASU Sports Medicine fellowship. While at ASU, Jeff covered Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Wrestling, Women’s Volleyball, and Track and Field. He currently practices at a specialty Sports Medicine Clinic in metro St. Louis.  Dr. Smithers is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Primary Care Sports medicine.

In his spare time Dr. Smithers enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy, and his children Julius (JJ) and Aliyah.

Karla Wright the Sports Dietitian and faculty member for the Arizona State University Primary Care Sports Fellowship.  A San Diego native, Wright graduated Cum Laude from ASU with a degree in Human Nutrition and completed her internship with Maricopa County Department of Public Health. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics through the American Dietetic Association. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

In February 2001, Wright was hired as staff dietitian for both Campus Health and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.  In fall 2006, her position was reorganized and her responsibilities now focus solely with the athletic department. In addition to her duties with ASU, she also consults for the Major League Baseball Umpires Association and has guest lectured for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainer's Association, Winning Sports Nutrition workshops and First Marathon running groups. In her spare time she enjoys running and spending time with her two children, Emma and Robbie. 

Sandy Smith
Administrative Assistant